Can filler



July 7, 1959 R. GE-ITNVER CAN FILLER 2 shees-shee'z 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1957 mil July 7', 1959 R. GEITNER CAN FILLER 2 Sheets-Shee.t 2

Filed Aug. 19, 19574 INVENTOR. ,00004 PH Gs/n/se BY w wqm

Rudolph Geitner, `Oakland, zcalif., assignor to Creative v:IVIetalS Corporation, ;Emeryvilla Calif., ,a Corporation 'offGalifOmia pplication August 19, 1957,;Sera'l No. 678,785 .ClaimS- (CL 141-294) ;*'This invention relates 'to and in Vgeneral has for its object the provisionof a can filler provided with Va dispe'nsing valve for controlling the -flow of milk therefrom 'during the can `filling operation .and 'with an air eduction and drainage control valve for permitting the escape of air'from the can during the `can filling operation through an air eduction tube and for automatically closing said a'ir eduction tube upon the completion of the can -filling cyle ithereto' tov prevent the drainage of mlk Vfrom said tube.-

' `"More specifically, -the object of this invention is the provision o f -a can filler including: an outer contractible ;and expandablevlve operator; an Linner rgid air eduction tube forming anV annular milk delivery passage with ;thei'va'lv'e operator and provided at its lower end with an outwardly eXtending annular -flange =having a "valve seat arranged to receive the lower end of said valve operator; -a'valve seat -provided on the lower end of said annular fla'ngecoaxiallyi-with said air eduction tube; an -annular 'valve Vclosure member vdisposed above said =latter valve seat and'engageable-:thereom thereby normally -to seal olf the `'lower end of saidtube; a sleeve `formed integral with Land l-extending 'upwardly from said vlatter valve closure 'membenlsaid sleeve 'being closed lat its upper end; a cylndrical or tubular .valve-operator extensiondepending 'fr-om the lower end of said ivalve operator and -provided finter-med'iatefits ends -with a milk discharge port or slot; 'a' -pin supported -by -said extension and extending -up- 3wardly'-through said -annular -valve closure member vinto said sleeve; means -for -biasing said valve operator vto -its norrnal-'expanded position; vand a resilient conoidal can plug-secured :to the lower end of said valve operator.

Another object of thsz-invention-is the provision of a can filler of the character 'above descri'bed wherein 'the 'valve operator takes the form of a pair of telescoping lsleeves -norma'l'ly biased to anextended or expandecl position =byla coiled Wire -cornpression spring.

Stillf-another object `of this invention is -the provision -of -a-.can filler of the Character above `described wherein its can plug is provided along its inner- `cylindriical and across its top face with a vacuum release passageway capable of closing when the plug is placed under compression under the Vinfluence of a can -tbeing .filled, but whic-h will iimrnediately open -when the vcan is released :from the can filler.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of'a can lfiller of the Character above described wherein its :said :valve operator extension is detachably secured to lthe -valveoperator by means such las a bayonet and slot connection so that it and -the eduction -tube Avalve assembly can 'be vreadily cleaned and sterilized.

The invention possesses .other advantageous features, `soine of which, with the foregoing, will .be set forth at ,length in the following description where that lform of theinventen which has ;been selected for illustration in the drawings -aeeomnanvifng :and erming ;a `:part of the l;present specification, .is .011tlined in full.` In :Said -drawings, one form of the invention is shown, but it is to -be leased therefrom, they will Vis elevated into 2,893',445 Petented July i 7., 1959 2 vis not limited to such temu, since the in the claims may beenibodied Ain lunderstood that it invention as set forth other forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pair vof can fillers embodying the objects of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary Vertical mid-section .of the .valve assemblies of one of the .can fillers illustrated 'in Fig. 1 and showing these valve ,assemblies and the associated can in their operative ;can filling positions.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through 'the section line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary mid-vertical section of one of the can fillers illustrated in Fig. 1 but showing the -valve assem'blies in the closed inoperative positions Fig. '5 -is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the section lineS-S of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 6 is.a,horizontal section taken on the section line 6-.6 of Fig. 4.

General assembly As illustrated n Fig. 1, a can filler embodying-the 4ob- ;jects .of ,my -invention includes in its entirety a inilk supply tank T, one or .more mlk flow control valve .assemblies V, and an elevator E for elevating one or more cans Cinto .their ,operative `positions relative -to their 'associated valve assemblies. Per se, `the tank T, elevators E, andtcans C are of 4conventional construction .and form no part of this ,invention Valve olpralar assembly Extending through an Opening :fermed in :the bettom 1 Ao fthe tank T and its stainless steel liner 2 and welded ,thereto is ;a fixed :innercylinderzorrsleeve ;3. Surrounding the upper end 'of .the -sleeve .'3 and 'welded "the-reto :is 'an externally threaded :eollar 4 'hand threaded thereto is ;a lock -nut 5. Here -it 'should be 'noted that -thesleeve 3 lforms ;a Iliquid-tight seal with ;the 'tank bottom V1 ;and .jits stainlesssteel -liner 2. f f

Telescoped over the ;free end of the cylinder or sleeve 3 and having a-sliding:liquid-tightfit therewithis 3anrouter cylinder 6 provided near its lower ;free ;end with `an out- 4wardly extending,` annular lflange 7. vCircurnscribing the `two .telescoping -sleeves 3 and .6 is coiled ;wire .compression spring 8 abutting the lock nut -5 fat its ;upper end :and supported at its ,lower vend by the flange 7. As a result ;ofthis structure, the :two spring biased cylinders 3 and serye .as a .lon itudinally expandable and contractble milktconduit .communicating at its upper end with the milk supply tank 1. Surrounding the Ilower `end of the Quter cylinder .6 .iirnmediately below its Xfiange 7 `is `Va dished, annular rubber cup 9 and tightly seated on the cylinder 6 in engagement withthe llower face `Iofthe cup 9 is a v,resilient ,inverted conoidal can plug f11 ,,conven- .ientlyzmadeof rubber. As shown in Fig. 2, the plug `,151 should be of a size such that it will make ;an `,effective -seal with the neck ,12 of .an associated can C and :theicup 9 should Abe.,of a size .suchthat vit ;will overle ,the dished lip ;13 ;of the can Forrned along the inner .cylindrical face of the plug 11 is a small air vent or :vauum release passageway or channel 1`4 communicating at its lower end with atmosphere and communicating at its upper end 'with a similar channel ;15 which smilarly `cornm-unieates with ,atmosphere at its Outer end. The ,composition of the Yplug 11 should v'be :such that ;When it is ,compressed ,under the influence of a ,can ;sealed thereto, -the 'passageways 1,4 and 15`will close, Iand that Whenthe;a11;is reepen, ,therzeby :to break any partial vacuum -which ,might otherwise develop during lthe ;process .of zrteleasing thecani As |a san; C .seated on -the ltable 16 of the elevator E sealing engagement with the plug 11,

the cylinders 3 and 6 will, of course, be contracted against the biasing action of the spring 8 or, more specifically, the outer cylinder 6 will slide upwardly over the inner cylinder 3. As a result of this action and for other reasonsv which will presently appear, the assembly 'so far described can be considered as 'an expandable and contractible valve operator, as well as a milk passageway.

Valve assembly Welded to 'and within tank T in vertical alignment with the cylinders or sleeves 3 'and 6 is an upstanding spider 17 formed at its upper end with a hub 18. Welded to the hub 18 is a sleeve 19 and rigidly mounted therein is a valve supporting an air eduction tube 21 extending downwardly through the cylinders 3 and 6 coaxially therewith to a point somewhat short of the lower end of the cylinder 6.

Secured to the lower end of the tube 21 is a downwardly diverging or conoidal wall or flange 22 provided on its periphery with a circular valve seat 23. Mounted on the valve seat 23 is an O ring 24 arranged normally to receive and seal with the lower end of the cylinder or sleeve 6. The tube 21, cylinder 6, and flange 22 therefore constitute a closed end annular chamber serving as a milk passageway when the cylinder 6 is raised rela- 'tive to the tube 21, the lower end of the cylinder 6 and the flange 22 serving as a valve for the purpose of effecting the latter function.

Threaded to the lower end of the conoidal flange 22 against an intermediate `seal ring 24 is an annular cap 25 formed with a central valve seat 26 and accommodated within the valve seat 26 is an O seal ring 27.

Slidable over the reduced lower end of the cylinder 6 is a cylinder extension 28, the upper end of this extension being snugly circumscribed by the lower end of the container plug 11. Formed in the extension intermediate its ends are a plurality of valve ports 29 normally located immediately beneath the valve seat 23 but which straddle the valve seat 23 when the valve operator assembly moves upwardly in response to -a rising can. As a result of this, communication between the interior of the cylinder 3 and the interior of -the can is established through the valve ports 29, as best shown in Fig. 2.

Attached to and extending across the lower end of the 'extension 28 is a spider 31 and, secured centrally thereto, is an upstanding pin 32. Mounted on the pin 32 with positive clearance is a closed ended sleeve 33 merging at its lower end with an annular, inverted mushroomshaped valve closure member 34 arranged normally to seat on the 0 ring 27, thereby to close oif the lower end of the air eduction tube 21. Here it should be noted that, as shown in Fig. 1, the sleeve 33 extends a substantial distance 'above the upper end of the pin 32, thereby to provide a lost motion connection between these two members.

Conveniently, the extension 28 can be detachably secured to the cylinder 6 by a conventional bayonet and slot connection generally designated by the reference numeral 35 in Fig. 2.

Finally and optionally, a wire mesh thimble type of filter 36 may be 'detachably inserted into the lower end of the 'air eduction tube 21 and retained therein by a mere friction fit.

Operation 'sealing engagement with the can plug 11 and then both the can and the valve operator assembly are elevated relative to the fixed valve assembly against the biasing iactionof the spring 8. During this latter ,increment of elevation, the ports 29 of the extension 28 rise above the valve seat 23 of the flange 22 and, as a result, communication is established between the annular passageway formed by the tube 21 and the cylinders 3 and 6, and the open ports 29. Milk will therefore fiow from the tank T into the can C until the can and the valve operator assembly are lowered by the elevator.

Also, during this last increment of elevation, the upper end of the pin 32 will come into contact with the upper closed end of the sleeve 33 'and serve to unseat the valve closure member 34, thereby to establish communication between the lower open end of the extension 28 and the air eduction tube 21.

During the can filling operation, the incoming milk will displace 'an equal volume of air and milk foam contained in the can and force it upwardly through the lower end 'of the extension 28, and through open port in the cap 25 together with some milk into the air eduction tube 21.

When the can is filled and the elevator moves downwardly, the valve Operating assembly will follow the can until the lower end of the cylinder 6 `again seats on its valve seat 23 under the infiuence of the biasing spring 8. Simultaneously, the valve closure member 34 will drop to its closed position, thereby to close oif the lower end of the air eduction tube 21 and trap therein all of its foam and milk content. This is a very important feature of my invention for unless such foam and milk are Lrapped, the foam will collapse 'into a considerable volume of milk and all such milk will then drip from the can filler after the can has been removed therefrom. This expedient therefore not only obviates a messy situation, but results in a considerable saving of milk.

After the two valves above mentioned have been brought to their closed positions, the continued down- Ward movement of the elevator results in depressing the can below the level of the can plug 11. However during the initial downward movement of the valve operating assembly which, in effect, can he considered as an upward movement of the valve Operating assembly relative to the can, the volumetric capacity is being slightly increased and this results in the production of a partial vacuum within the can prior to the parting of the can from the can plug 11. Unless precautions were taken to break this partial vacuum, considerable force would be required to break the seal between the can plug and the neck of the can. To this end, I have provided the air passageways 14 and 15 in the plug 11, all as above described. So long as the plug 11 is under compression, these passageways remain closed but as soon as this pressure is relieved as by the downward movement of the elevator during its final stages of movement, the passageways 14 and 15 automatically open so as to permit the egress of air into the can. With .the vacuum so broken, there is then no tendency for the can to adhere to the can plug.

I clairn:

1. A can filler comprising: a tank; an open ended, hollow, longitudinally contractible and expandable valve Operating member secured to and communicating at its upper end with said tank; a substantially rigid tubular member extending through said valve Operating member coaxially therewith and fixed to said tank in communication therewith, said tubular member and said valve operating member together defining `an annular chamber; an outwardly extending annular flange secured to the lower end of said tubular member for normally closing the lower end of said annular chamber, said flange being provided at its periphery with a first valve seat for normally receiving the lower end of `said valve Operating member; a second valve seat provided on said annular fiange in axial alignment with said tubular member; a tubular extension mounted on the lower end of said valve operating member and provided with vat least One valve port normally located immediately below said first valve seat; an upwardly extending pin supported from said tubular extension coaxially with said second valve seat; a sleeve surrounding the upper end of said pin, the upper end of 'said sleeve being closed and its lower end being provided with a valve closure member arranged normally to seat On said second valve seat thereby to close Off the lower end of said tubular member; a resilient can closure plug fixed to and surrounding said valve Operating member mmediately 'above its lower end; and means for biasing said valve Operating member towards an expanded position. 2. A can filler comprising: a tank; an open ended, hollow, Iongitudinally contractible and expandable valve Operating member seoured to 'and communicating at its upper end with said tank; a substantially rigid tubular member extending through said valve Operating member coaxially therewith and fixed to said tank in communication therewith, said tubu'lar member and said valve operating member together defining an annular chamber; an Outwardly extending annular flange secured to the lower end of said tubular member for noi-mally closing the lower end of said annular chamber, said flange being provided at its periphery with a first valve seat for normally receiving the |lower end Of said valve Operating member; a second valve seat provided on said annular flange in axial alignment with said tubular member; a tubular extension mounted on the lower end of said valve Operating member and provided with 'at least one valve port nor- 3 mally located imrnediately below said first valve seat; an upwardly extendng pin supported from said tubular extension coaxially with said second valve seat; a valve closure member normal'ly seated On said second valve 'seat and arranged to be unseated in response to upward movement of said valve Operating member; a resilient can closure plug fixed to and suurrounding said valve Operating member irnmediately above its lower end; and means for biasing said valve Operating member towards an expanded position.

3. A can filler such as defined in claim 2 'wherein said valve Operating member is provided at a point immediately above said can closure plug with an Outwardly extending flange serving to support the upper end of said plug.

4. A can filler such as defined in claim 3 wherein an annular resilient liner is disposed between the said outwardly extending flange of said valve Operating member and said can closure plug and Wherein said plug is provided with an -air vent passagcway extending from ts inner face to atmosphere.

5. A can filler as defined in claim 2, wherein said longitudinally contractible and expandable valve Operating member includes a pair of telcscoping cylinders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 976,085 Lttler Nov. 15, 1910 2,197,588 Namur Apr. 16, 1940 2,272,208 Jorgensen Feb. 10, 1942 2,703,672 Quam Mar. 8, 1955 

